End plug connection to cord



sept. 12, 195o a P. Baus 2,522,341

END PLUG CONNECTION T0 CORD Filed June 21, 1948 IN VEN TOR.

Patented Sept. 12, 950

This invention has to do with electric plugs and particularly with endplug vconnectors for extension cords and the like, the primaryobject.being to provide a plug that is quickly and easily manu. factured andextremely efficient frorntle-V Standpoint of thefcomponent parts thereofbeing rigidlyjandvirtually irremovably connected. 4 ;3 l Themost,important object of this invention. is the provision of an end plugconnectorhaving a pair of relativelytelescoped sections, one of thesections-,receiving the contact prongs, which prongs extend into theinterior ,ofi the outermost section throughcorresponding openings,` saidprongsre'ach having a perforation formed therein thatisdisposed withinthe opening for the' prong, said perforations` receiving the conductorsIin clamping relationship withinthe openings. Another important `objectof thisy invention is the provision of an endplug connectorhavinga pair'.,of spaced apart contact prongs;` extending intoA a. hollow body`through thehcorresponding openings formed in said body, the prongs* eachhaving a perforation formed therein and disposed within. thecorresponding body opening to the. end lthat asa conductor wire isthreaded through the perforation of theprong, such wire is tightlyclamped withinsaid opening. f if: Another object ,of this invention isthe provision ofiaconnector plug having contact prongs provided withl a.perforationv and av slot spaced from the Iperforation, A'the conductorwire passing UNITED, STATES PATENT oFFlcE- I I y ENnrLUGC'oNNEcToro CoDp Emile 5P. Bres, Kansas city, M0.

v 1 Appiiatian June. ai, 194s, sensi N6. 34,244 l 'g "tenias" (ci.17s-,3511)]y thein clmgs'tol the end that the prongs are held rigidlyagainst movement relative to the body.

Many minor objects referring to details of con#v struction will be madeclear or become apparent as the, followingspecication progresses,refer.- ence,being had to the accompanying drawing,

y tact prongs ,per se and f =.Figa6. is-:an inverted plan view oftheinner.-v m'ostaof the twoA body sections showing the same 1 entirelyremovedfrom other parts of theplug.-

through the perforation and extending-'finto the f slot in loop 4fashionto theend that the conductors maybe easily and quickly connected to theprongs withoutithe vnecessity of using screws, bolts an the; like in the.conventional manner. -1

-A furtherobjectof this inventionis the provisiony of a connector plugformedfrom readily rigid material to the end that as the looped end Y ofv.tlf-ie conductors is disposed in clamping relationship yas rabovedescribed, the rigidity of: the material itself will prevent relativemovement between the wires and their respectiveprongs.

Q'I still further object of this l:invention is the provision of a .plugof the aforementioned characvter having a pair ofl body sectionsinterconnected by proj ,ecting4 ear and cavity assemblies, to .the end,that when the sections are assembledbya snap-fit action, theycan. beseparated onlybya vstrongv prying action impartedlfthereto.

An additional object f th l, nvention is toprvideaplugas abovedescribedwhereinr one o f the sections isforimolwithl a pair of spaced apartprojettent. prec'iselywmoured to. .nt @belonen Ysection and bearingdirectly against a Yportion of y .lt isicommon knowledge thatelectricendplug connectorsy have heretofore been made Ain a largenumber-off different ways resulting in a highly competitiveeldyandne'cessitating the -production off aiu-plug having all thenecessary advantages thereof -andat the same time being inexpensive tomanufacture, to the 'end that 'constantprice cutting-*canbe met. f Y 'f-Accordinglythe plugabout to `be described, has beenproduced to -'permitquick and easyfassem# bling-bythe' 'manufacturer primarily 'to the en'dthat'- tliecstfcf production thereof can be ap'- prec'iablyfdecz'r'eased.A "Obviously, lwhile cutting such'fcst of f production, itis still necessary -to havea'ri 'eflicient plug"v and, asv willhereinafter ber 'come' apparent, ay great v"advancement I'has alsovb'eeynmade particularly with respect to the plug maintaining-itself inan Aassembled condition leven aftr'lalong periodof continued use'.Inbther words, one of the inherent'defects cfjrriostplug's zon themarkettodayfliesin the fact'that'after the samehasbeen' placed' in use,theprongs` thereof nd/or' the conductorsv become .broken looseanduoftentimesresults in discardingl ofthe ennnfplua: 5 i'jthefd'rawing, a Sectional bcdy'bro'adly ,des-f igjnateifbythehumeralIIL'has ya main bodylporl''and alsecondaryV body portion I4' telef#ithin'fthe body portion 12..: ll`heY outer 'body portionfrv section l2hasa co tinuous il lgitudinal bore' I6" formed there-v through.A sectionI8. of this `bore l is relal tlv-6.15 Smalll'andi's of such size as toreceive an ir'isilated` extension cord or the likel 20. This cord 20 hasa pair of insulated conductors 22 and 24, the free ends whereof are bareand devoid of insulation.

Another section 26 of the bore I6 communicates with section I8 and is ofan appreciably greater cross sectional area than section I8 of bore I6for receiving the body section I4. As clearly illustrated in Figs. l and3, this section 26 of bore I6 is elliptical as is the section I4 whichis tightly tted tl'ierei-n.l Obviously however, L,theprecise crosssectional 'contour of the sections-I2 `Fand Ill.,`

of section l2 in the usual manner, whereasfthe opposite end of bodysection I4 is irregular andl until such ears reach the cavities 40 andsnap into place.

The sections I2 and I4 can be separated by prying action but it iscontemplated that no separation become necessary and certainly with suchformation the sections I2 and I4 will not become readily displaced.Obviously, theparticular disposition of the cavities 40 and the ears 42is of no great importance and it is understood that they jmay beformedinwardly .from the end of theaflug near the fingers 28 of section lIiiand if desired, can be shifted to the end walls of sections I2 and I4rather than along the side walls thereof. Furthermore, any number ofsuch ear- -cvity assemblies can be utilized if desired or if ,y such.should become necessary. Each of the provided with a pair of opposedprojections '28' and an intermediate projection 3U.' Y i As illustratedin Fig. 4 of the drawing, the side walls of the body sectionl 2 andconsequently the Section` I4, are substantially straight, but, as shown'in 'Figf2 of the drawing, 'the end walisf both 'sections M and I2 areslightly arcuate.' -Consequently the 'proj ec-tionsor fingers ci the*body section f4, curve inwardly `aloi'ig Vtheir "outermost faces as thelowerrnost ends thereof are ap'- prached. The 'section'l26 of the boreIiefeirtends inwardly beyond the innermost end of the section Y Wardlyfrom the i-nnernistend of vsection I8 of bore I6 in overlappmg'relationship 'toa lportion of bore section I8. 1

Fig. l2 vof the idrawin'g, clearly illustrates the manner in which theinnermost ree ends of the two iingers 2-8 extend 'into the respectivecavities 32 of body section I2.. pairof spaced. Lapart openings 34 are'formed'in the body section-1I Alin-ext adjacent the ngers 28 andcommunicate :at their innermostfe'nds with the section 26 of bore'IIi.In other words, there is an openingoid between the central projection 36of section I4 and each of thefnngers 228 thereof. The openings34:'are'polygonai in Icross sectional contour to conform to prongs 36.having the form Aand contour .illustrated :in Fig. 5. VThese two prongs36 extend into the 'openings -34 'of section' 'I4 andextend beyond bothends 'of the respective vopenings 34. The innermost free end of.V eachof the prongs 361s provided with a laterally projecting portion 38 andwhen -th'e component parts of the plug are assembled as illustrated inFig. 2, this portion 38 of the prongs extends into the respectivecavities 32 -of body section I'2.v Since the cavities'f .exe tend at anangle substantially thesarnegas the angularity of :portion 38 of prongs36, a'tightxit is presented with the .innermost freeends of the ngers'2-8 bearing tightly against theportions l3B of ,prongs 36. Thus, whenassembled, `tlrieprongs 36 .cannot move longitudinallyineitherfdirection since the two sections t2 'andI cooperate' inpreventing'such movement, f I

A .pair `of Opposed relatively small. cavities 4U are 'formed in theinnermost ffaces'.- fftliev side Walls of body section I2 near theuppermost end thereof. Corresponding side walls 'of 'the body section I4are provided with outturned 'ears 4:2 that t within the cavities 40whenY th sections 1I2 and 'I4 are assernbl'edtogether. Iti'sjcntemplatedthat the sections IA2 and I4 ofbo'dy "lf'be 4formed from a relativelyhard `and substantially -lil rigid "material such as plastic.fsuchin'aterial ly permitting' passage 'of the cute-turned 'ears l42prongs 36 Vis vprovided with a pair .of spaced apart perforations, oneof which constitutes a small ho1e 44 adjacent the laterally extendingportion 38 thereof, whereas the other perforation extends at an angle inthe form of a slot 46. The slo-t '4-6 communicates at4 its open end withone edge fof the 'flat prong 36 and ifs-spaced toward the norrnallyoutermost end of the respective prong 36. `As noted in Fig. f2 of thedrawing, the innermost end volf both of vthe openings :34 inbody-section 14, `are enlarged "as at 48, When the .prongs 36 aredisposed Within 'the openings 34., the slot v46 thereof is within Athis:enlarged .portion fait of the openings y34.

The conductors 22 and -24 :ext-end into the section 26 of bore I6between the projection 36 and the 'proximal prong 536. rlheluninsulatedportion of conductors 22 and `212i 'then pass into slot A416 and 'arelooped inwardly, one leg vthereof passing along 'the outermost 'face ofthe respectiveprong 36 and 1in-to the hole '44 lof vsuchprongs 36. Sincethe slots 4S are within 4rthe yportions 43 `,of opene ings the-'bight`'ancla portion yof 'the legs of the loop formed in the :conductors 2.2and y24 are within this ienlarged :portion 48 of `'openings y34.Thisover=all width oi vthis :enlarged portion 481s less-than'the-'combined thicknesses of the prong 36 :and the two "legs'ofthe loop 'of 'conductors 22 and 24, vall to the end that `when theconductors 22 v:and .24 and their yprongs 36 :are Iforced 'into ftheenlarged portion 43 of vopenings 3'4, 'a 'squeezing and clamping action|.will be impartedto the'conductors :22 and `24. Since the prongs 36fcannot move inwardly ltoward veac-h otherbecause of :the

, presence vof Ia portion fof the `conductors -22 'and 24 4disposedbetween the prongs and the `innerL most vwall forming 'enlarged openings48, afclamp ing action will be limparted to the conductors -2'2 and 24throughout that portion of the legs th-ere-` of extending *between theSlot *46 and the h'ole 44. In other words, this portion 'of the -loopiisdisposed between innermost -t'ace fof "the .ngers `23 andtheproximalsface of the prongs 133.

iManif'estly, when all fof the component parts of A-tlzle `plug areasseifnbled relationship, "abs'o lutely trof-movement iis possiblebetween the I-sec'- tons iM 'and l 2 fol? 'the -b'ody "1F11, .nor'`between 'the prongs 36, thev conductors 22 and 2f4 fand the'body il).The Vconductors '22 `afn'd` 2f4 belin'gio'oped over a"prtien oi the'prong 36 `ate'r passing the slet W6 Tenders it positively impossible tese' arate cord 20 v'and the plugfitselff lby'pullinfgoltwa'idly on 4thecord 2i). 'If `such outward -move= ment 'is imparted A'to `the cordfrelative 'to the plug itself, vthe Vv'conductor Iwires 22 'and 24 -willbresil; beforetlre loops thereof pull I-throhgh"fthe slot 46 andhole-44. 'By'th'e Same token, the com nee'tor Vpri-ings 36 cannotrnoveinwardly or out-- wirdly l'with respe'tto the body A'sln'ztio'n "I4vand ly because of the fingers 23 bearing against the portions 33 ofprongs 36, nor outwardly because of the ears 42 and their interlockingengagement with cavities 40.

In addition to the plug being highly efiicient from the stand-point ofrigidinterconnection between its component parts, the assembling itselfis relatively simple and easy. The operator simply threads the cord 20into the section I3 of bore I6 to a point where the free ends ofconductors 22 and 24 are beyond the innermost end of bore section i8.The free, uninsulated ends of the conductors 22 and 24 are then insertedinto the holes 44 of the respective prongs 33 and then quickly andeasily looped over and into the slots 43. The body section i4 can thenbe moved over the contact prongs 33 to a, point where the enlargedopenings 48 thereof embrace and receive a portion of theconductors 22and 24. l't is to be noted that the prongs 33 are provided with theusual outwardly7 bowed and downwardly extending stamped tongues 5G,serving primarily to yieldably hold the contact prongs 35 in an electricoutlet. Since the prongs 33 are made from resilient material, thesetongues 5d will readily yield to the openings 34 when prongs 33 areinserted therein. Inasmuch as the prongs 33 have suiiicient means forpreventing displacement thereof withv respect to body section I4, it isnot necessary that these tongues 50aid in that respect as is common inmany types of devices of tion, the central projection thereof willreadily separate the two conductors 22 and 24 and maintain the same `inseparated condition throughout the life of the plug. Consequently, theuninsulated portions of the conductors 22 and 24 will never come intomutual contact causing an electrical short. After the conductors 22 and24, together with the prongs 33 and the body section I4 are allinterconnected, section 4 is moved into the bore section 20 to a pointwhere the ears 42 thereof snap into place. It is readily apparent thatthese steps can be performed very quickly and with a minimum amount ofskill, and actual practice has proved that the number of plugs which canbe assembled by an individual operator in a given length of time, istremendously increased through formation of a plug as above described.

All of the advantages initially set forth herein are, therefore,attained by the plug forming the subject matter hereof and while onlyone embodiment thereof has been illustrated and described, any changesand modifications as fairly come within the scope of the appended claimsare contemplated hereby.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

k 1.k An end plug connection comprising a pai of body sections, one ofsaid body sections having a cavity for receiving the other of said bodysections and a bore communicating at one end thereof with said cavityand adapted to receive a pair of electrical conductors, said other bodysection having a pair of spaced openings, each registering at one endthereof with said cavity; and an elongated prong within each openingrespectively of the other body section, one end of each prongextendingoutwardly beyond said other body section, the opposite end ofeach prong being within said cavity and wedged between proximal parts ofthe body sections, each prong being provided with a pair of spacedperforations in that portion thereof within the cavity adapted toreceive a corresponding conductor with the latter extending through oneperforation in one direction and thence through theother perforation inthe opposite direction, said prongs and said one body section havingcomplementary, inclined, interengaging parts for forcing the prongs inone direction toward the other body section, whereby `to clamp a portionof the conductors in place.

2. An end plug connection comprising a pair having a pair of spacedopenings, each registering at one end thereof with said cavity;anelongated prong Within each opening respectively of the other bodysection, one end of each prong extending outwardly beyond said otherbody section, the opposite end of each prong being within said l cavityand wedged between proximal parts of the body sections, each prong beingprovided with a pair of spaced perforations in that portion thereofwithin the cavity adapted to receive a corresponding conductor with thelatter extending throughone perforation in one direction and thencethrough the other perforation in the opposite direction; and meansforming a part of said one body section adjacent the cavity thereof forforcing the innermost ends of the prongs apart, that portion of eachconductor extending from one perforation to the other perforation beingdisposed between its corresponding prong and the other section, andbeing clamped therebetween when the prongs are forced apart.

EMILE P. BEUS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

